Roger Federer overcame a slow start before stepping up a gear to defeat Frenchman Arnaud Clement in straight sets and secure a semi-final place at the ATP Estoril tennis Open in Portugal.
The Swiss top seed, playing the event for the second time after winning the title on his debut in 2008, lifted his spirits as his French Open title defence draws nearer.
Tomorrow Federer will compete for a spot in his second final at the Estadio Nacional in a match against holder Albert Montanes, after the fourth-seeded Spaniard defeated eighth seed Pablo Cuevas in their quarter-final.
At the bottom of the draw, fifth seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain advanced when compatriot Alberto Martin retired with a stomach complaint.
